§ MR. JOHN CAMPBELL (Armagh, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to an outrage lately perpetrated at a farm belonging to Mr. James M'Coo, Portadown, the house and offices being completely destroyed by fire, and three cows and a calf in a byre being burned to death; whether he is aware that Mr. M'Coo was one of the Roman Catholic excursionists attacked last summer, and subsequently was a witness in the prosecution of the Orange aggressors; and will he inquire into this case.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe facts are stated with substantial accuracy. The police have made careful inquiry. They have come to the conclusion that the deplorable event was malicious, and not accidental, in its origin, and will spare no effort in the attempt to bring the authors of this dastardly outrage to justice.
§ MR. JOHN CAMPBELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman still adhere to his opinion that the police force at Portadown is sufficient?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI admitted that at the time the outrage occurred in August last the force was not sufficient, but I promised that the deficiency should not recur on any future occasion.
§ MR. JOHN CAMPBELLIt has recurred.